Rose
Rose was diagnosed with heart failure after a heart attack 14 years ago. She has an implanted defibrillator to regulate her heart beat, which is monitored by a machine at her bedside. She is visited at home by a specialist nurse once a month.
Rose learned that she had heart failure fourteen years ago when she was hospitalised after a heart attack and had a stent inserted. She was told that the left ventricle of her heart wasn’t working properly. She has had two mild heart attacks since then, one of which she was unaware of. About four years ago she had a defibrillator put in her chest to regulate her heart beat. Sometime later it was not working properly and had to be replaced.
Rose experiences breathlessness and tiredness, which seem to be worsening as time goes on. The breathlessness limits what she can do. She goes out less often and no longer travels abroad. She uses a stick to walk outdoors and hires a mobility scooter when out with a friend. She cannot play with her grandchildren outdoors. She has to walk slowly and uses oxygen when doing hoovering or ironing. She sleeps on her side propped up with three pillows to prevent breathlessness at night but sometimes needs her oxygen. Family members help her with some household tasks and take her shopping, as well as providing emotional support when she feels down.
Rose was very disappointed to have to give up work when she could no longer climb stairs or lift heavy boxes, and would love to return to some sort of work. She moved from a three bedroomed house to a bungalow when stairs became difficult for her.
Rose also has back trouble and osteoarthritis in her left shoulder but cannot have an operation for it as the risks of a general anaesthetic are too great for her heart. She has a lump behind one of her knees which further restricts her movement. Restless leg syndrome interferes with her sleep unless she takes a medicine for it. She sometimes feels sick, which she attributes to stress. She could not drive for eight weeks recently while suffering from dizziness, but this has now been cured with medicines. A duodenal ulcer was also successfully treated in the past. She is currently waiting for tests to find out whether she also has COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).
Rose’s heart condition is monitored by specialist heart nurses who visit her at home about once a month. Rose checks her own weight before each visit and occasionally measures her blood pressure with a home monitor. She also has a general check-up once a year with a nurse at her GP’s surgery. Her defibrillator is monitored by a machine at her bedside and the readings sent automatically to the hospital; she also has it checked at the hospital twice a year. She takes lots of different medicines for her heart plus painkillers for her arthritis and an anti-sickness medicine when necessary. Rose is very happy with the way she is looked after and feels reassured that the professionals are keeping an eye on her. She gave up smoking after her first heart attack and tries to eat relatively healthily.